spend £100 by the year: I would be bound to lose it, if that I did not obtain the foresaid safe-conduct. For I know that if the inhabitants of Scio did but think that we would trade thither again; they would, at their own cost, procure to us a safe-conduct without a penny of charges to the merchants. So that if the merchants will but bear my charges to solicit the cause, I will undertake it myself. Where I pray you speak to Master WINTER and the other merchants, that this may take effect; and let me have your answer herein as soon as conveniently you may: for the time of the year draweth nigh that this business must be done.

Thus I commit you to GOD; and rest always yours to command,

Yours as your servant,

JASPER CAMPION.

To the Worshipful Master WILLIAM WINTer. T may please your worship to understand, that as concerning the voyage to Scio, what great profit would be got both for merchants, and also for owners of ships-as it was well known in those days when the Matthew Gonson, the Trinity Fitz Williams, and the Saviour of Bristol with divers other ships which traded thither yearly; and made their voyage in ten or twelve months, and the longest in a year-Master FRANCIS LAMBERT, Master JOHN BROOKE and Master DRAVER can truly inform you hereof at large.

And by reason that we have not traded into those parts these many years; and that the Turk is grown mighty, whereby our ships do not trade as they were wont: I find that the Venetians do bring those commodities hither; and do sell them for double the value of that we ourselves were accustomed to fetch them. Wherefore, as I am informed by the abovenamed men, that there is none so fit to furnish this voyage as yourself: my request is that there may be a ship of convenient burthen prepared for this voyage; and then I will satisfy you at large what is to be done therein. And because the Turk, as I said before, is waxen strong,

Campion

Feb.

and hath put out the Christian rulers and placed his own subjects; we may doubt whether we may so peaceably trade thither as we were wont: therefore I dare undertake to obtain a safe-conduct, if my charges may be borne to go and come. Of the way how this may be done, Master Lock can satisfy you at large.

Moreover, I can inform you more of the trade of that country than any other; for that I have been in those parts these thirty years, and have been married in the very town of Scio full four and twenty years. Furthermore, when one of our ships cometh thither, they bring at the least 6,000 or 8,000 kerseys; so that the customs thereof are very profitable for the prince, and the return of them is profitable to the common people: for in barter of our wares, we took the commodities which the poor of that town made in their houses. So that one of our ships brought the prince and country more gain than six ships of other nations. The want of this our trade thither was the only cause why the Christian rulers were displaced: for when they paid not their yearly tribute, they were put out by force.

Touching the ship that must go, she must observe this order. She must be a ship of countenance. She must not touch in any part of Spain, for the times are dangerous, nor take in any lading there: but she either lade in England, either goods of our own or else of strangers, and go to Genoa or Leghorn, where we may be well intreated. From thence she must make her money to buy wines by exchange to Candia, for there both customs and exchange are reasonable: and not do as the Matthew Gonson and other ships did in times past, who made sale of their wares at Messina for the lading of their wines; and paid for turning their white money [silver] into gold after four or five in the hundred, and also did hazard the loss of ship and goods by carrying away their money. Thus by the aforesaid course we shall trade quietly, and not be subject to these dangers.

Also [along the coast] from Leghorn to Castel del Mare which is but sixteen miles from Naples, and the ready way to Candia; you may lade hoops: which will cost 27 carolins" of Naples the thousand, which is 2 ducats of Spain. And in Candia for every thousand of hoops you shall have a butt of Malmsey clear of all charges. Insomuch that a ship of

the burden [300 tons] of the Matthew Gonson will carry 400,000 hoops, so that 1,000 ducats will lade her. And this is an usual trade to Candia, as Master MICHAEL LOCK can testify.

Furthermore, it is not unknown to you, that the oils which we do spend [consume] in England for our cloth, are brought out of Spain; and that they are very dear; so that in England we cannot sell them under £28 and £30 the tun. I say we may have good oil, and better cheap in divers places within the Straits [of Gibraltar].

Therefore if you think good to take this voyage in hand; I will inform you more particularly, when you please.

In the meantime, I rest

Fair CYNTHIA's silver light

That beats on running streams, Compares not with her white, Whose hairs are all sunbeams. Her virtues so do shine

As day, unto mine eyne.

With this there is a red

Exceeds the damask rose: Which in her cheeks is spread, Whence every favour grows. In sky there is no star,

That she surmounts not far.

When PHOEBUS from the bed
Of THETIS doth arise;
The morning blushing red.
In fair carnation-wise,

He shows it in her face

As queen of every grace.

This pleasant lily white,
This taint of roseate red,
This CYNTHIA's silver light,
The sweet fair Dea spread,

These sunbeams in mine eye;
These beauties make me die.

E. O.